Westmoreland category, Page 693
Penn Township survey seeks feedback for comprehensive plan
Penn Township is asking for residents’ input as it prepares to update its comprehensive plan. The township is conducting an online survey that asks some big questions: What core values do residents share? What are some of the biggest issues likely to challenge the township over the next decade? Responses...
Republican commissioners nix labor pact for Westmoreland County projects
Nonunion firms no longer can say they are being frozen out of securing high-dollar construction contracts with Westmoreland County. Republican county Commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew on Thursday terminated a controversial agreement with local trade unions. They said the Project Labor Agreement with the Pittsburgh Regional Building and Construction...
Greensburg auditions for starring role on HGTV
Greensburg is hoping a new TV show can bring some star power to the city’s efforts to eliminate blight. The city is one of many communities that applied for a shot to be featured on HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover,” which is set to premiere early next year. “Even though in...
Newly elected Monessen district judge trying to pass test in order to take office
Although Monessen voters elected a new district judge in November, it could be at least March — or longer — before he is finally sworn in. Wayne P. Vlasic, 63, the city controller, confirmed he still needs certification from the state minor judiciary board to begin serving as district judge....
Municipal authority to build new $5.5M office, garage for sewer operation in New Stanton
Work will soon begin on a new office and garage facility to house the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s growing sewer operation. The authority this week awarded nearly $5.5 million in construction contracts for the project, to be built on its campus off Park and Pool roads in New Stanton....
JTown Kitchen owner believes ‘the bigger, the better’Video
Diners at JTown Kitchen are unlikely to leave hungry. They also are likely to leave with leftovers. Cheryl Cochran makes big plates for big appetites at the Jeannette eatery she owns with her husband, Christian Weiss. “It’s been described to me as comfort food. The bigger, the better,” Cochran said...
Woman accused of selling heroin, cocaine out of New Stanton apartment
Complaints from neighbors about persistent foot traffic to and from a New Stanton apartment resulted in the arrest Wednesday of a 22-year-old woman on drugcharges, state police said. Olivia J. Vandyke of Jeannette was arraigned before East Huntingdon District Judge Charles Moore on charges of manufacturing, delivery and possession of...
Youngwood braces for ‘traffic nightmare’ with water, sewer line replacement projectVideo
Youngwood residents soon will live the highway construction mantra of “temporary inconvenience, permanent improvement.” All four lanes of Route 119 will be torn apart to install new water and sewer lines, followed by PennDOT’s reconstruction of the borough’s main north-south thoroughfare. “It’s going to be a traffic nightmare for two...
Derry awaits new police dog, training to continue program
A four-footed crime-fighter should once again be patrolling the streets of Derry, if all goes as planned. Derry Police Chief Randy Glick is hoping to drive to Washington, D.C., next week and return with his newest police dog partner — a 9-month-old Malinois pup that is to be flown in...
Pizza Hut is latest chain restaurant to close in Hempfield
Another chain restaurant has shuttered in Hempfield. Pizza Hut, located along Route 30 near Westmoreland Mall, officially closed Monday, according to a sign posted on the door. “We want to thank all of our loyal customers,” the sign reads, in part. It also encourages people to visit other area Pizza...
Westmoreland Symphony serves up a ‘Parisian Valentine’
Good concert programming naturally seeks diversity and contrast, but better programming also seeks common threads between pieces. Westmoreland Symphony music director Daniel Meyer says the orchestra’s next program will look at how great composers play with the idea of classicism in music. Meyer will conduct the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra in...
Greensburg Salem School Board begins search for new member
The Greensburg Salem School Board formally accepted the resignation of former member Rachel Shaw and began the search for a new member Wednesday. Rachel Shaw announced her resignation last month. The board has one month to appoint a replacement. The board will hold a special meeting to appoint the new...
Pennsylvania Solar Congress comes to Indiana County
Nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors will host the second annual Pennsylvania Solar Congress on Saturday at the Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort and Conference Center in Blairsville. The statewide conference attracts solar owners, supporters, and advocates, according to a press release issued by the group. The day will include a series...
Westmoreland Bar Association to move in Greensburg, starts $900,000 renovationVideo
A new, larger and more functional headquarters for the Westmoreland Bar Association is expected to be operational this summer, officials said. Members and staff gathered Wednesday in downtown Greensburg to celebrate the lawyer organization’s $900,000 construction project to renovate a vacant building at the corner of Maple and Otterman streets...
Westmoreland takes over small Fayette sewage system
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board members on Wednesday approved taking over a small Fayette County sewer system, the first new acquisition the agency has finalized in more than a year. The deal will transfer the 574 customers of the Upper Tyrone Township Sewage Authority to the county utility and...
Irwin man paroled after pleading guilty to role in killing of dog
A man was paroled Wednesday after he was sentenced to serve 28 days in jail for his role in the killing of a dog last summer on railroad tracks in North Huntingdon. Anthony Keith Harper, 28, of Irwin pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to torture an animal...
Jeannette officials move to abate long-standing public hazard at former bank building
Broken windows have been cleared out and boarded up at a long-vacant Jeannette building that has been the subject of 11 building code citations since 2013. Fire Chief Bill Frye said he got a search warrant last month so firefighters and public works crews could go into the former bank...
Greensburg woman accused of injuring 3-week-old child
A Greensburg woman is accused of assaulting and seriously injuring a 3-week-old child, according to police. Destiny M. Pratt, 24, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond on aggravated assault and child endangerment charges. Greensburg police reported that they received a ChildLine report last month that detailed...
‘Seculosity’ author to speak on future of American religion, spirituality
Author, editor and podcaster David Zahl will speak at Ligonier Town Hall on March 12 on the decline of organized religion and the rise of “replacement” religions. Zahl is the author of “Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about...
Rahmael Holt officially sent to death row for killing New Kensington Officer Brian Shaw
Rahmael Holt simply said “no” when asked Wednesday whether he had anything to say before his death sentence was formally imposed. Holt, 31, of Harrison, Allegheny County, officially became the 133rd person on Pennsylvania’s death row when he was condemned to death by lethal injection for shooting and killing New...
Hempfield officials look to standardize ‘Spartans’ logo
Hempfield school officials could spend $2,400 to standardize the district’s “Spartans” logo. This week, school board members discussed hiring Base Design Studio of McCandless to create “a professional and standard appearance,” according to Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. The design agency would be responsible for creating a uniform Spartans logo that could...
Golden retriever ‘Daniel’ from Ligonier Twp. captures hearts at Westminster dog show
Everybody loves a golden retriever, and everybody’s favorite golden after this week’s Westminster dog show is Ligonier Township’s very own Daniel. The 5-year-old, bred and trained by Tammy Tomlinson of Hillock Golden Retrievers, won best-in-breed and best sporting dog at the 144th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at New...
Cops: Sutersville man jailed on $500K bond for rape, sexual abuse
A 41-year-old Sutersville man was arrested Monday by state police on charges of allegedly raping a 12-year-old and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old. Ronald E. Styche III was arraigned before Rostraver District Judge Charles Christner on charges of rape, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and statutory sexual assault. Christner ordered Styche...
Greater Latrobe math scores on rise in 7th grade, need boost in other gradesVideo
Greater Latrobe Junior High ranked third out of 20 Westmoreland County middle schools last year, based on students’ state academic assessment results and attendance. Students outperformed state average achievement levels in 2018-19, but district administrators say they’re focusing on more than just standardized test results as they prepare local youth...
Latrobe looks to curb misrouted downtown truck traffic
Latrobe’s public works crew plans to install signs to guide large trucks properly through key downtown intersections to help protect from damage to traffic signals and curbs that soon will be upgraded there. Public works Director Scott Wajdic told city council this week that PennDOT has approved signs that will...
